NIC-10 golf champ Adam Werntz of Freeport will sign with Highland

Adam Werntz still plans on studying to be a civil engineer at one of the nation’s top 10 engineering schools, but for the next two years he’ll study and play golf at his hometown college. Freeport’s NIC-10 and regional golf champ will sign a letter of intent Thursday to play for Highland.

Adam Werntz still plans on studying to be a civil engineer at one of the nation’s top 10 engineering schools, but for the next two years he’ll study and play golf at his hometown college. Freeport’s NIC-10 and regional golf champ will sign a letter of intent Thursday to play for Highland.

“I was very excited to be accepted into Illinois, but the want to play golf made me choose Highland,” Werntz said. “I love golf that much. Playing golf is a huge part of my life. Why waste two years of free college and give this up when I don’t have to for two more years?”

Werntz said he is confident he can transfer into Illinois when he graduates from Highland. He said the minimum requirements for U of I in civil engineering out of high school was a 3.9 grade-point average and a 30 on the ACT.

Werntz said Highland is a good fit for him even beyond golf.

“Having a college right next door is really convenient and cool,” Werntz said. “I know most of the people on the team, plus a lot of other people at the school.”

Highland plays nine golf tournaments in both the fall and spring. Werntz wants to help the Cougars reach the NJCAA Division II nationals.

“My sophomore year in high school, we went down to state in golf as a team. That was a blast,” Werntz said. “A national tournament in Alabama would be even better. That’s my goal.”